Dedham | Village | Dedham|Essex Village CO7 6DE Details Set by the River Stour, Dedham is in the heart of Constable Country. It was here that Britain's greatest landscape artist went to school. The attractive main street is lined with Georgian-fronted houses, old inns and a large art/crafts centre. The magnificent 15th C. church was built from the wealth of the medieval cloth industry. Dedham is frequently rated as containing some of England's most beautiful Lowland landscape, most particularly the Water Meadows of the River Stour, which passes along the northern boundary of the village forming the boundary between the counties of Essex and Suffolk. Of longer influence in Dedham was horse painter, Sir Alfred Munnings who became President of the Royal Academy. His house in Dedham, Castle House, now contains a gallery of his work, and his studio.

Dedham Vale and the Stour Valley - Car Free Walks 3 of 5 (2 votes) Dedham Vale and the Stour Valley A leisurely walk (riverside) starting and finishing in Suffolk, England, about 6.23km (3.87 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 1:30. It is unsuitable for families with children, prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs. Elevation Profile Car Free Walks Team Created by Timwoods on 21 Jan 2010 This is a walk through Constable Country - the typical rural English countryside made famous by the paintings of John Constable. The walk heads past the scene of his most famous work, Flatford Mill on the River Stour. Starting from Dedham, it's easy riverside walking near the border of Suffolk and Essex to the town of Manningtree. An interesting extension of the walk takes you to Mistley, with the curious Mistley Towers. Regular buses to Dedham from Colchester, and trains back from Mistley.

Walk Functions Create your own walk & win Share Add / Remove from Walk List Download GPX-File A leisurely, linear walk (coast) starting in Essex, England, about 3.28km (2.04 mi) long, duration: ~0:45h. Walk Map Dedham OS Grid TM057331 Catch the bus to the village of Dedham, the home of John Constable. This village is famous for its magnificent church, St Mary the Virgin. The footpath to the River Stour starts nearby in Brook Street. The River Stour About 0.90 km (~0.56 miles) from OS Grid TM065334 The path then follows the lower reaches of the River Stour. The area is part of the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as is managed to protect its rich wildlife - more info on what to see at different times of year here: Flatford Mill About 1.08 km (~0.67 miles) from OS Grid TM076331 This famous building is an 18th century watermill, now a Grade 1 listed building (whatever that means) and a Field Studies Centre.

The building was made famous by Constable in one of his many paintings of the region. Towards Manningtree About 2.53 km (~1.57 miles) from OS Grid TM100324 Follow the southern side of the river along to Manningtree. There are train and bus connections from here, but it's worth continuing on to Mistley, further along the estuary. Mistley About 1.72 km (~1.07 miles) from OS Grid TM116318 Mistley is a funny little place. Its main claim to fame is being the home of Mathew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General! The quay is now closed to the public sadly, so instead aim for the Mistley Towers, two striking towers that were once part of a church. An interesting finish to an enjoyable day out. What do you think?

John Constable and the Essex fox – Dedham – Flatford – Cattawade round | Constable Country Walks | Walking Guide The Walks » Constable Country Walks » John Constable and the Essex fox – Dedham – Flatford – Cattawade round John Constable and the Essex Fox Dedham – Flatford – Cattawade round Mobile friendly version Dedham an attractive village in the borough of Colchester is situated on the River Stour and on the border of Essex and Suffolk. Dedham has some of the most beautiful lowland landscapes in England especially the water meadows of the River Stour, the river forming the boundary between the counties of Essex and Suffolk. The water meadows are an ideal place to relax, walk or hire a boat for a paddle down the river. Dedham, Dedham Vale and the River Stour are in the heart of Constable Country where John Constable got his inspiration to paint from. John Constable lived in East Bergholt, just north of Dedham, but went to school in Dedham. Many of his paintings feature Dedham, including Dedham Mill which his father owned, and the 15th century St.

Mary’s Church whose massive 131 foot steeple dominates the surrounding Dedham Vale. Dedham was once a wealthy wool and market town and now agriculture is the main industry with mainly arable land of sugar beet and wheat. There is also some grazing of cattle and sheep. The village has become a very popular tourist attraction with plenty to do for everyone, from the young to the old to the disabled. The nearest town is the small market town of Manningtree. Flatford, also situated on the River Stour just a few miles east of Dedham, is the most interesting and beautiful place with so much to see and do. You can understand how John Constable got his inspiration to paint in this very attractive and quaint dale. His paintings of Flatford often featured the Granary and of Flatford Mill which his father also owned along with Dedham Mill. The Granary is now privately owned and offers B&B accommodation and only yards away is Flatford Mill and Willy Lott’s House both the latter owned by the National Trust and it is here between the two buildings that Constable painted his most famous painting “The Hay Wain”.

Flatford Mill is a Grade 1 listed 18th century watermill and attached to the mill is a 17th century miller’s cottage and Willy Lott’s Cottage is 16th century but was restored in 1920’s both the latter are Grade 1 listed. Bridge Cottage, also owned by the National Trust, has a free exhibition of Constable’s work and next door there is a tearoom and shop. Adjacent to the tearoom is the dry dock which was featured in his “Boat Building” painting. Rowing boats can be hired from the landing stage next to Flatford Bridge and river trips on the River Stour Trust’s electric boat are available on certain days during the summer season. There is a large coach and car park at the top of the hill. The car park at the National Trust Visitors Centre is for the disabled where there are public toilets with disabled and baby facilities. Opposite the disabled car park there is the RSPB Flatford Wildlife Garden, a new project which opened on the 15th June 2011. The garden has been landscaped and planted with many species of garden and wild flowers to attract wildlife, birds, insects and butterflies to nest and feed.

Entry is free and during the summer months children and families can take part in the activities and events of the day. There are a few small circular walks around Flatford which can be obtained from the visitors centre. The River Stour is 47 miles long and forms most of the border between Suffolk and Essex. Cattawade picnic area is where the River Stour enters the estuary and meets the sea. The picnic area on the Cattawade Marshes and the right of way on the Essex or the South side of the river towards Flatford and Dedham are excellent for bird watching. The Walk We park in Dedham car park and walk to the bridge. We take a short detour to the left to take a look at the lock keepers cottage and Dedham Mill. We then go back to the bridge and follow the Stour Valley Path with the River Stour on our right. When we reach Fen Bridge we do not go over the bridge we turn left, leaving the Stour Valley Path, and follow the lane and cross over the next bridge. We then follow the lane to the left then to the right until we arrive at a road with a seat opposite we turn right.

We follow the road then turn right downhill on a no through road next to Flatford coach and car park. This road leads to the new RSPB Wildlife Garden, the visitors centre, the disabled car park and all the attractions. After we have had a good look around the area we carry on to Flatford Mill and Willy Lott’s house. At the end of the road turn left onto a track we are now back on the Stour Valley Path we follow the track for a short way until we come to a gate. Go through the gate and turn right and follow the hedge round to the right going under a pylon to a gate in the corner. Go through the gate and turn left. Now we keep heading forward along the path through the fields until we reach a road with two houses in front of us. Turn right along the road to Brantham and then turn right into Cattawade Picnic Area. Here we take a break then head over White Bridge where the River Stour ends and the sea begins and we cross the border from Suffolk into Essex. We now follow the river path, sign posted Flatford, with the marshes and the river on our right.

We come across lots of wildlife and also a fox in a field to our left. We follow this path which brings us back to the bridge at Flatford. We turn left and now walk across the fields keeping close to the river, still on our right. When we see Fen Bridge over the field we head straight on through the centre of the field and pick up the path on a sharp bend in the river. We follow the path which brings us out in Dedham next to Dedham Hall. We turn right and wander through the village to St. Mary’s Church then about turn. At the T-junction we turn left, at the next T-junction we turn right and make our way back to the car park. Terrain A mostly flat walk with only a few slight gradients. Distance Approx 8.5 miles using OS map 196. Location Stour Estuary & Constable Country | Out of the LOOP Out of the LOOP Stour Estuary & Constable Country Wrabness station – Bradfield – Lawford – Dedham – Flatford Mill – Manningtree station This is a walk of two halves, taking in very different faces of the River Stour, on the Essex/Suffolk border.

In the east, the broad, reed and beach-lined estuary, teeming with bird life. To the west, the stunning lowland river valley of Dedham Vale, at the heart of ‘Constable Country’. The walk can easily be shortened to take in just one of these halves… Download PDF version Length: 14 miles (22.7km). Using a linking path between Lawford church and Manningtree station, the walk can take in the estuary stretch only, with a length of 7 ¾ miles (12.8km) or a circular walk from Manningtree encompassing the Dedham Vale section of around the same length. Underfoot: Estuary-side and riverside paths could be muddy at any time of year, as can some of the field paths. Also, stretch of sandy beach. Good footwear recommended. Terrain: No significant climbs or descents. Maps: 1:50,000 Landranger 168 Colchester; 1:25,000 Explorer 184 Colchester and 196 Sudbury, Hadleigh & Dedham Vale.

Getting there: Wrabness is situated on the branch line to Harwich, which normally requires a change of trains from London. Greater Anglia trains run hourly every day from Manningtree (9 mins) where they connect with frequent services from London Liverpool Street (55-70 mins), usually timed to connect with the fastest expresses from London, giving a total journey time of 69 mins. Useful websites: Much of the route follows the Essex Way and the Stour Valley Path . You pass the Wrabness Nature Reserve , the Dedham Vale AONB , the Munnings Collection and Flatford . Getting home: There are 3 Greater Anglia services per hour (2 on Sundays) from Manningtree to London Liverpool Street (60-73 mins). 2 of these services (1 on Sunday) call at Stratford (52-63 mins) for London Underground, London Overground and DLR connections. Fares: Greater Anglia offers advance singles from Wrabness and from Manningtree, but these are rarely much cheaper than a non-advance fare, and lose you flexibility.

The best non-advance fare is a Super Off-Peak Day Return to Wrabness for £23 (child £11.50, railcard £15.20). If you choose to do a circular walk from Manningtree, returns to there are a few pence less. The short train journey along the branch from Manningtree is a beautiful estuary run, giving a good preview of the walk ahead. This line (sometimes marketed as the Mayflower Line) dates back to 1854 and originally provided connections with continent-bound steamers in Harwich’s old town centre port. In 1883, the port moved upriver to the much more spacious Parkeston Quay, now the next stop after Wrabness, though it lost that evocative name in the 1990s, for the rather bland ‘Harwich International Port’. From the Harwich-bound platform, cross the line via the foot crossing at the Descending to the Stour Manningtree end of the platform – obeying the colour light signals, and exit the station through its car park.

At the top of the rise, turn left on the slightly un-PC Black Boy Lane to recross the railway on a bridge. Past the last few houses of the little village of Wrabness and descend on the fenced path ahead towards the estuary, with views to tower and vast red brick buildings of the Royal Hospital School on the north bank and eastwards to the port of Harwich. The Royal Hospital School, which sits in the Suffolk village of Holbrook, is a private school – the largest boarding school in East Anglia – with close links to the Royal Navy – its students are the only ones in Britain permitted to wear naval uniforms. The Royal Hospital in question is the Royal Naval Hospital in Greenwich, and the school originally opened there in the early 18th century, before moving to Suffolk in 1933. The large ships you may see moored upstream at Parkeston Quay are likely to be the Beside the Stour ferries which serve Hoek van Holland or Esbjerg, though cruise ships and container carriers dock there frequently as well. Beyond the port, the Stour reaches the confluence with the River Orwell, flowing down from Ipswich, with the open sea just beyond.

On reaching the shoreline, turn left on the path beside the river and join the levee, beside the saltmarshes, which teem with bird life. Past Shore Farm you return to the field side and at a path junction by the small mobile home park at Balhaven, keep right to continue to follow the shoreline. (In the event of a very high tide, the beach stretch may be impassable. In this case, turn left up this track to the road at Wrabness Hall. Right along road for around 300m before following Essex Way waymarks right to rejoin the route at Wrabness Nature Reserve.) Keep right at a ‘Water skiing prohibited’ sign to pass through the dinghy park and onto a sandy beach in front of a long row of beach chalets, of varying sizes and grandeur. Keep to the beach past a wooded headland to reach a second set of chalets. Past the last of these, continue on the beach for another 300m or so. Just before you reach a large watercourse crossing the beach, take a short flight of concrete steps up the levee. Follow the footpath sign to right to keep close to the marshy shore over Wrabness Sluice.

Ignore the waymarks to the left just after the sluice and keep to the levee, passing a sign marking the entrance to Wrabness Nature Reserve. Wrabness Sluice This 60-acre nature reserve, run by the Essex Wildlife Trust, is on the site of a MoD depot used for the storage of sea-mines until its closure in 1963. It covers woodland, grazing land and saltmarsh. On one winter’s morning here, the author saw avocet, oystercatchers, dunlin, green woodpeckers and a kingfisher. Past a hide, the path cuts inland, but almost immediately you turn right on a tarmac path with Essex Way (EW) waymarks through inland part of reserve. At the next path junction keep right to return to the foreshore, following EW waymarks along the edge of the saltmarshes. Pass Ragmarsh Farm with its large wooden barn and continue on the path (often squelchy) which picks its way through the marshes before eventually returning to the beach. Coming to a signpost, turn left on a tiny road (Shore Lane) heading away from the river to pass under the railway line.

Still climbing, you soon reach the houses of Bradfield. At the end of Shore Lane, turn left along busier road, passing a roadside triangualtion point and through the village towards the stumpy church tower. At the junction by the church and Stranger’s Bradfield Home pub, keep straight ahead. Take the first road on the right (Mill Lane), which soon leaves the village. In the valley bottom by a pond, where the road swings left, keep straight ahead on a footpath cutting uphill across the fields. Follow the waymarks across the large hilltop fields, with good views of the Stour valley below. Reaching a road in Mistley Heath, keep straight ahead and then quickly leave it at the right hand corner to head left on a drive (following a footpath sign). Follow the track to the right in front of Church House Farm and continue straight across fields and into a wood. Keep straight ahead at a path junction, passing rugby pitches, then descending gently through Furze Hill with glimpses of a small lake below to the left. At the edge of the wood, leave the trees through a kissing gate ahead and cross the small valley, with reed filled stream and the chimney of Mistley maltings to the right.

Climb out of the valley again, passing Dairy Farm, to enter Dairy Wood. Join the farm’s drive to cut straight through the wood. Where two tracks merge keep straight ahead, and after 100m turn right on a waymarked fenced path past paddocks. There now follows a short urban stretch through the edge of Manningtree. Joining a gravel track, keep straight ahead past an attractive terrace of Victorian houses. On reaching the road by the derelict Wagon pub, cross and take Barnfield opposite (with footpath sign). At the end of the road take the snicket to the left of a pink cottage to cut through to a second road. Turn right, then left just before a railway bridge onto Mill Hill. The road runs beside a railway, passing a smart Edwardian waterworks. Cross the busy road at the end and take the surfaced footpath ahead. Keep to this main path, running between modern houses and a school. At the end of the metal fence surrounding the school playing fields, take an informal path cutting diagonally ahead to the corner of a housing estate, from where you follow the waymark ahead, dropping into Owl’s Flight Dell.

Follow the waymarks through the Dell, below the dam of a small reservoir, to reach the busy A137. Cross with care, and turn left on the pavement. At the top of the rise, turn right on the track next to an electricity sub-station (with footpath sign). By a house, pass right through a kissing gate and take the lefthand path towards a Lawford Church stream. At the second kissing gate follow waymarks right, across Wignall Brook and climb the opposite side of the valley towards Lawford church. The path swings around the perimeter wall of the graveyard, past cottages and across Lawford Hall drive. (To return direct to Manningtree station at this point turn right on drive towards Hall, past the gates, and then shortly afterwards right on a signed path. This clear path descends for around 1km to reach a minor road. Turn right, then almost immediately left on a short path to reach the station.) (To make a circular walk from Manningtree station exit through the booking hall and turn right down the sloping road towards the car park. At the bottom of the slope take the path left marked to ‘Flatford and Dedham’ to reach a small road.

Turn right then quickly left on a path signed to Lawford. This path climbs for around 1km to emerged at Lawford church. Turn left on drive to church car park.) Lawford Hall, some distance from the village it takes its name from, sits on the side of a 16th century house built by an Edward Waldegrave. The Waldegrave family, who still live at the Hall, purchased the land from the crown after confiscation when its original owners were found in possesion of ‘treasonable correspondence’ during the Reformation. The Hall was almost completely rebuilt in the 18th century, with the Elizabethan walls still standing behind the Georgian facade. The church of St Mary’s, next to the gate, is even older, with the chancel dating from the 14th century. In the church car park, take the right hand of the two paths signed ahead. Through a gate, you get a brief view of the Hall to the right. A second gate leads you onto a gravel drive which you follow left to Dedham Road. Follow this narrow road – often quite busy – for 300m.

Where the road veers right downhill, keep ahead on the footpath leading off Sherbourne’s drive. The path follows the lefthand hedgerow, with views ahead into Stour valley. At Broom Knolls house, the path swings left through a gate to follow its drive. Follow this around a bend to the right and then keep straight ahead at a junction (following EW waymarks) past a barn. By Alder Carr’s pond, veer right on a waymarked footpath, dropping through the attractive woods to cross Shir Burn and the railway line running through the small valley (this is the fast and busy Great Eastern mainline, so take extreme care when crossing the railway) before climbing across rabbit-infested paddocks to a minor road. Take the footpath opposite, which cuts across a field to a second road. Turn right and follow this quiet road for 1km, gently dropping to the fine houses on the edge of Dedham. At the end of the road by Munnings Collection, turn right, then immediately left on Coopers Lane. Castle House house the Munnings Collection, showing the work of Sir Alfred Munnings, a prolific painter during the first half of the 20th century.

After his death in 1959, his widow devoted her life to collecting his work in his former home. Munnings was part of the Newlyn School, and served as an official war artist during World War I. Follow this small road around a bend to the left then follow a footpath sign right after The Rimes, past an impressive imitation Tudor house. Follow the waymarks to the right past the front of pink Park Farm and onto a footpath. At a junction by the stable yard, keep left (EW waymarks). Cross the footbridge at the bottom of the field and keep right, across a series of fields of Dedham Church former parkland. On reaching a sports field with Dedham’s large church tower ahead, turn right to the clubhouse and then left on a path between trees to emerge by the war memorial on Royal Square in the fine historic centre of Dedham, with pub, tearoom and shop opposite. The little market town of Dedham contains a large number of fine historic buildings, including the fine 15th century church.

This was the last ‘wool’ church to be built – built using the immense proceeds of the wool trade – today it contains John Dedham Royal Square Constable’s The Ascension. From Easter to September, you can climb to a viewing platform on the church tower for fantastic views of the Stour valley. Other major buildings in the town include The Sun coaching inn, the Georgian Assembly Rooms and the Elizabethan-era Grammar School, which Constable attended. Turn right, past the Art & Craft Centre. Where the road bends right, turn left on Dedham Hall’s drive (signed as a footpath to the river). At a fork in the track, turn left through a kissing gate onto a fenced path beside a pond. This waymarked path leads beside a stream to emerge onto a track by a ford. Turn left over the footbridges adjacent to the ford to join a road opposite the large brick Dedham Mill. Cross the road, turn right along the pavement, and after crossing the first channel, turn left at a footpath sign. This leads you over the mill leat and across a bridge by Dedham Lock.

The River Stour was one of the earliest rivers in Britain to be substantially ‘improved’ for Dedham Mill navigation, with an Act of Parliament passed in 1705 to provide for navigation rights and improvements to make the river navigable right up to Sudbury. This work included the construction of 13 locks, such as this one at Dedham. The Navigation was very successful, carrying wool and crops to the port at Harwich, and coal inland from coasters. As late as World War II, commercial barges were still working upstream beyond Manningtree. Work has been slowly underway since 1968 to restore navigation right through to Sudbury. On the far side, turn right along the river bank to return to the road. Turn left over the bridge, and then turn right again on the riverside path. Where the Stour veers right, you come to a waymark post. Take the path signed left, leaving the river and cutting across the floodplain to a gate in the hedge ahead. Continue ahead along a lovely tree lined corridor. On reaching a small track, turn right to rejoin the river at Fen Bridge.

Cross the river and continue left along, or near, the river bank until the meanders eventually bring you to the footbridge by thatched Flatford Cottage. Cross here to access the visitor centre, the cafe in the Cottage and the Mill (along the lane). Flatford Mill is a large 18th century water mill in the heart of Dedham Vale, well known Willy Lott’s Cottage aka ‘The Hay Wain’ as the location of many of Constable’s most famous paintings, both of the Mill itself and the surrounding landscape. Perhaps most famously, The Hay Wain portrays the view just downstream from the Mill. The cottage in the painting, Willy Lott’s Cottage stands next to the Mill and the view in the painting is easily spotted. The Mill and cottages are now a field studies centre. To continue, return to the right hand bank and follow the path downstream, passing Flatford Lock and the Mill on the opposite bank, the path soon joining a levee and running at a little distance from the river. At a large sluice structure keep ahead along the length of it and at the far end turn left (following footpath sign to Manningtree).

You are now in a much more open valley, with large reedbeds along the Stour and sheep grazing the pastures. After about 800m, follow the footpath sign pointing right to ‘Manningtree station’. This path soon joins a straight track between hedges which you follow to the left. This eventually turns sharply to the right to pass under the railway line. Immediately after the railway bridge turn left on a tarmac lane below the railway embankment. The road curves around the large station car park. You pass a path to the right signed to Lawford and just afterwards turn left on a short path to the station. London express at Manningtree Station Share this: Learn and talk about River Stour, Suffolk, Rivers of Cambridgeshire, Rivers of Essex, Rivers of Suffolk Etymology and usage[ edit ] The name is of ambiguous and disputed origin. On one theory, the name Stour derives from the Celtic sturr meaning "strong". [3] However, the river-name Stour, common in England, does not occur at all in Wales; [4] Crawford noted two tributaries of the Po River near Turin , spelled Stura.

In Germany the Stoer is a tributary of the River Elbe . According to Brewer's Britain and Ireland the Stour is pronounced differently in different cases: the Kentish and East Anglian Stours rhyme with tour; the Oxfordshire Stour is sometimes rhymes with mower, sometimes with hour, and the Worcestershire Stour always rhymes with hour. [5] Locally, the River Stour dividing Essex from Suffolk does not have a uniform pronunciation, varying from stowr to stoor. [6] As against that, stour is a Middle English word with two distinct meanings and derivations, still current enough to appear in most substantial dictionaries. As an adjective, with Germanic roots, it signifies "large, powerful" (in present-day Scandinavian languages stor means "big, great"). As a noun, from medieval French roots, it signifies "tumult, commotion; confusion" or an "armed battle or conflict". Wiktionary also adds "blowing or deposit of dust", the primary definition in the Concise Oxford Dictionary, which adds that this is a northern English and Scottish usage of uncertain derivation.

[7] In 2006 it has been suggested that an Old European river-name was taken for an Old English adjective and that stour came to represent one pole of a structural opposition, with blyth at the opposite pole, allowing Anglo-Saxons to classify rivers on a continuum of fierceness. [8] The Victorian etymologist Isaac Taylor , now long discredited on many counts,[ citation needed ] proposed a very simple solution: that Stour derives from dŵr, the Welsh word for water. [9] It is quite possible that the various Stours do not share a common origin and that they need to be considered in their own terms rather than as a single problem. Certainly there is currently no universally-accepted explanation.[ citation needed ] Description[ edit ] The Stour rises in Wratting Common, Cambridgeshire, near to Weston Colville , and reaches the sea at Harwich . [10] The eastern part of the River Stour is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known as Dedham Vale , named after the village of Dedham in Essex. It is an area of rural beauty on both sides of the River Stour.

The Dedham Vale AONB is approximately 11½ miles (18 km) east-west and 2.4 to 4.8 miles (4 km to 8 km) north-south. The earliest known settlement on the river in Suffolk was at Great Bradley , where man has had a recorded presence for over 5,000 years. The River Stour was one of the first improved rivers or canals in England. Parliament passed 'An Act for making the River Stower navigable from the town of Manningtree , in the county of Essex, to the town of Sudbury , in the county of Suffolk' in 1705, mandating public navigation rights and providing the basis of a joint stock company of London and Suffolk investors who raised £4,800 to cut and manage the river. Although partly supplanted by railways, lighters were still working on the Stour above Manningtree almost until World War II . As of 2016 they still operate as far as Mistley . The Stour valley has been portrayed as a working river by John Constable , Thomas Gainsborough and Paul Nash .

Constable's connection with the area was especially important, evident in such works as The Stour Valley and Dedham Church c. 1815. Today much of the Stour valley is designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty. [2] It forms the spine of what is known as Constable country. The River Stour Trust , a waterway restoration group, was set up in 1968 to protect and enhance the right of the public to navigate the River Stour. The trust seeks to restore through navigation from Sudbury to the sea, following on the successful restoration of the locks at Dedham, Flatford and Great Cornard, by reinstating the 10 remaining locks. Meanwhile, the trust encourages use of the River Stour by small craft and organises annual events for all age groups and abilities on different parts of the river. River Stour Trust boat trips and private charters, skippered by volunteer boat crew, are available in Flatford and Sudbury between Easter and October. The Environment Agency is the navigation authority for the river. River Stour Boating Community Interest Company, based in Bures, organises two-day canoeing and camping expeditions from Sudbury to the estuary at Cattawade.

RSPB Stour Estuary is a nature reserve managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Constable's Dedham Vale of 1802 Boats on the Stour with the church of Dedham in the background, John Constable , c. 1811 River Stour passing through Dedham Vale Railway bridge over River Stour near Manningtree Source of the River Stour on Wratting Common Mouth of the River Stour at Harwich River Stour, Suffolk - Wikipedia, Photos and Videos River Stour, Suffolk NEXT GO TO RESULTS [51 .. 100] WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE The Stour at Manningtree , Essex Country 0 m (0 ft) - coordinates Length 47 mi (76 km) The River Stour ( /ˈstʊər/ STOOR or /ˈstaʊr/ STOWR ) [1] is a river in East Anglia , England . It is 47 miles (76 km) long [2] and forms most of the county boundary between Suffolk to the north, and Essex to the south.

It rises in eastern Cambridgeshire , passes to the east of Haverhill , through Cavendish , Bures, Sudbury , Nayland, Stratford St Mary, Dedham and flows through the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It becomes tidal just before Manningtree in Essex and joins the North Sea at Harwich . Contents Etymology and usage[ edit ] The name is of ambiguous and disputed origin. On one theory, the name Stour derives from the Celtic sturr meaning "strong". [3] However, the river-name Stour, common in England, does not occur at all in Wales; [4] Crawford noted two tributaries of the Po River near Turin , spelled Stura. In Germany the Stoer is a tributary of the River Elbe . According to Brewer's Britain and Ireland the Stour is pronounced differently in different cases: the Kentish and East Anglian Stours rhyme with tour; the Oxfordshire Stour is sometimes rhymes with mower, sometimes with hour, and the Worcestershire Stour always rhymes with hour. [5] Locally, the River Stour dividing Essex from Suffolk does not have a uniform pronunciation, varying from stowr to stoor.

[6] As against that, stour is a Middle English word with two distinct meanings and derivations, still current enough to appear in most substantial dictionaries. As an adjective, with Germanic roots, it signifies "large, powerful" (in present-day Scandinavian languages stor means "big, great"). As a noun, from medieval French roots, it signifies "tumult, commotion; confusion" or an "armed battle or conflict". Wiktionary also adds "blowing or deposit of dust", the primary definition in the Concise Oxford Dictionary, which adds that this is a northern English and Scottish usage of uncertain derivation. [7] In 2006 it has been suggested that an Old European river-name was taken for an Old English adjective and that stour came to represent one pole of a structural opposition, with blyth at the opposite pole, allowing Anglo-Saxons to classify rivers on a continuum of fierceness. [8] The Victorian etymologist Isaac Taylor , now long discredited on many counts,[ citation needed ] proposed a very simple solution: that Stour derives from dŵr, the Welsh word for water.

[9] It is quite possible that the various Stours do not share a common origin and that they need to be considered in their own terms rather than as a single problem. Certainly there is currently no universally-accepted explanation.[ citation needed ] Description[ edit ] The Stour rises in Wratting Common, Cambridgeshire, near to Weston Colville , and reaches the sea at Harwich . [10] The eastern part of the River Stour is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known as Dedham Vale , named after the village of Dedham in Essex. It is an area of rural beauty on both sides of the River Stour. The Dedham Vale AONB is approximately 11½ miles (18 km) east-west and 2.4 to 4.8 miles (4 km to 8 km) north-south. The earliest known settlement on the river in Suffolk was at Great Bradley , where man has had a recorded presence for over 5,000 years. The River Stour was one of the first improved rivers or canals in England.

Parliament passed 'An Act for making the River Stower navigable from the town of Manningtree , in the county of Essex, to the town of Sudbury , in the county of Suffolk' in 1705, mandating public navigation rights and providing the basis of a joint stock company of London and Suffolk investors who raised £4,800 to cut and manage the river. Although partly supplanted by railways, lighters were still working on the Stour above Manningtree almost until World War II . As of 2016 they still operate as far as Mistley . The Stour valley has been portrayed as a working river by John Constable , Thomas Gainsborough and Paul Nash . Constable's connection with the area was especially important, evident in such works as The Stour Valley and Dedham Church c. 1815. Today much of the Stour valley is designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty. [2] It forms the spine of what is known as Constable country. The River Stour Trust , a waterway restoration group, was set up in 1968 to protect and enhance the right of the public to navigate the River Stour.

The trust seeks to restore through navigation from Sudbury to the sea, following on the successful restoration of the locks at Dedham, Flatford and Great Cornard, by reinstating the 10 remaining locks. Meanwhile, the trust encourages use of the River Stour by small craft and organises annual events for all age groups and abilities on different parts of the river. River Stour Trust boat trips and private charters, skippered by volunteer boat crew, are available in Flatford and Sudbury between Easter and October. The Environment Agency is the navigation authority for the river. River Stour Boating Community Interest Company, based in Bures, organises two-day canoeing and camping expeditions from Sudbury to the estuary at Cattawade. RSPB Stour Estuary is a nature reserve managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Constable's Dedham Vale of 1802 Boats on the Stour with the church of Dedham in the background, John Constable , c. 1811 River Stour passing through Dedham Vale Railway bridge over River Stour near Manningtree Source of the River Stour on Wratting Common Mouth of the River Stour at Harwich

Question: On which river does the Suffolk town of Dedham stand?
Answer: Stour